Extensible rule, &amp;c.



G. l.. FINSTROM.

EXTENSIBLE RULE, &c

APPLICATION FILED /IuG .I3. 19H.

1,338, 176, Patented Apr. 27, 1920.

UI'ITD STATES OFFI.

p GUSTAF L. FINSTROM, ECHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

ExTENsIBLE RULE, au.

To all whom. t may concern Be it known that I, GUs'rAF L. FINs'rRoM, acitizen yof the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county ofCook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Extensible Rules, &c., of which the following is aspecification.

My invention relates to mechanics tools and its object is vto provide animproved extension rule wherein the sections. are extended slidably in astraight line and are held alined. Another object of the invention is t0provide a case for the closed up or compacted sections, which case isalso a convenient handle for the rule and, in combination with one ofthe rule sections, a gage and a stock or bar carrying level tubes sothat said case is also a level. The present improvement furthercontemplates a combination and arrangement of parts adapted for wood,metal or fiber and to'be embodied in strong and dependable form by-means of the less expensive processes or construction.

With the above-named objects in view my invention consists in the novelconstruction, combination and arrangement ot parts, all as hereinafterdescribed in detail, illustrated in the accompanying drawing Aand moreparticularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawingv Figure 1 is a perspective view, drawn to a reducedscale, of the outside of the device with several ofthe rule-sectionswithdrawn from the case.

Fig. 2 is a vertical and longitudinal section or a substantially fullsize case, sectional rule, level and gage embodying my invention,showing the rule sections stacked within the case.

Fig. 8 is anenlarged section taken substantially on the line 3 8 of Fig.2.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged longitudinal section taken at either one Aof theoverlapping ends, as between arrows 4 4,`Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a vertical *and longitudinal sec-r tion, drawn to an enlargedscale, of the. for ward, or right hand, ends ofthethree lower rulesections 24, 25, and 26.

Fig. 6 is a section taken on'the -line 646 Of Fig. 4.

Fig. 7 is a similar section taken on line 7-7, Fig. 4.

Fig. 8 is a side view of the forward end or the casing, broken away andenlarged, showing cam stop mechanism.

Y Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 27, 1920.

Application filed August 13, 1917. Serial No. 185,871.

Fig. 9 isa section taken on the line 9-9 of Fig. 8.

Fig. 10 shows the right hand end of Fig. 2 lwith parts in changedpositions.

Fig. 11 is a section taken on line 11-1-1 of Fi 10.

ig. 12 is a section taken on line 12-12 of Fig. 4.

In the several views 2, 3, 4 and 5, represent, respectively, the top, orcover, fbottom and sides of the case, gage body and level and plumbstock. 6 and 7 are end closers fastened in any suitable manner,a s byscrews 8. To the inner side or the cover2 is secured by means or screws9 a VblocknlO in which is a recess for aspirit-level tube 11, wherein l2Y represents the usual bubble At .right i angles `,thereto in the lefthand `end of the case is .secured by means of anl adjusting screw 12 anda pivot screw 13 another block y 14 in `which is a level tube 15,wherein 16 is the bubble A helical spring 12 is mounted on the screw 12between the end 6 `and the block 14.

y With the exception of the lowest section 26 the rule-sections areinterlocked within the case, and as each joint of two overlappingsections asthey appear in Fig. 1 enters the case the bottom of thelatter and the top vof the opening leading thereinto automaticallydisconnect the joint. Provision is made for locking a length of rulesections at any stage of their projection, which is`particularlyserviceable when the device is used as a scratch gage.

Referring,.now, to the details of construction, the sectional rule as awhole comprises vany desired number of sections 17, 18, 19,

20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, andv 26, all substantially alike with theexception that the first section 17, as the sections are stacked in thecase, or the last section to be drawn out, is provided with a hook, stopor upwardly projecting shoulder 27 which prevents, as will lhereinafterappear, its entirewithdrawal, or

heldagainst its bottom 3 by a follower 36 which is a plate of metalformed with upturned side flanges 37 and 38 between which helicalexpansion springs 39 and 40 are held on studs 41 and 42 on the cover andsimilar studs 43 and 44 on the follower 36. The top 2 is formed withdownwardly bent edge flanges 45 and 46 which parallel and pass betweenthe sides 4 and 5. This makes the exterior of the case substantiallysmooth, or free from projecting edges or portions. In the presentembodiment of this invention the bodies of the sections 17 to 26 areadapted to be made out of wood or fiber with metalshod ends whichcontain the interlocking parts, and hold the rule sections in alinementor against relative angular' movement.

The lock for holding any one of the sections against movement relativeto the case consists of a cam 47 operated by an elbowlever 48. On thiscam is a point or corner 49 that may be pressed against the lowestsection as indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 9. The last, or uppermost,section 17 is, when withdrawn from the case to the'full extent of itsoutward movement, automatiyes ' of the body of the rule section.

cally locked against return, or inward movement, by means of a spring 50one end of which is secured in any suitable manner to the bottom of anotch 52 made in one edge of the rule section 17. The free end of thisspring is curved to form a shoulder or stop button '53 which snaps overthe end edge of the side 5. The cam 47is mounted on a pivot 54 and in arecess 55 formed in the end-piece 7. rEhe lever 48 for moving the stopvcam is fulcrumed on a pivot 56 the ends of which are held in the wallsof the opening or slot 55. On the load-end of the lever 4S is a stud 48which engages a slot 47 in the cam 47. The metal shoeings, or fittings,for the forward, or right hand, end of each of the rule sections,excepting the first, or 26, which carries the scratch points, are shownin Figs. 2, 3, 4, 5, 6,7 and 12. The metal fittings for the rear end ofeach of the rule sections, save the section 17, are shown in Figs. 2, 4,6, 7, and 12. ward end of each of said sections is tipped or shod with ametal plate 57 formed with downwardly and inwardly inclined side flanges58 which form a slot or trough for a dove-tail joint, as shown 'in Figs.6 and 7, that is engaged by correspondinglyY beveled edges 58 of theadjacent, or connecting, rule section. The plate 57 has an extensionVwhich is bent backwardly at an upward incline to form an acute anglewith theplate 57, or a hook 59 which overliesand forms a grip upon acorrespondingly beveled end 59 j Out of the rear end-of the plate 57 aparallel pair of fastening or nail studs 63 pass through the body of therule section like nails and are clenched into the opposite side by theforma? The fortion of right angle bends of lugs 63 directed toward eachother as shown in Fig. 6. Between the ends of the plate 57 is struck upa lug 57 which engages one end of an opening hereinafter referred to andcooperates with the hook 59 to hold the shoe in lace.

il he shoe on the rear, or left hand, end 'of each of the sections 18 to26 is shown in F igs. 4, 6, 7, and 12, the rear end of the section 17being shown in Figs. 2, 10 and 11. On each of said rear ends is a plate60 with downwardly and toward each other inclined side flanges 61 whichare fitted to and slide within the inclined flanges on the plate 57.YLike the plate 57, the plate 60 is formed with an a'cutebend overlapportion 62 which overlies andforms a grip for a beveled end 63 on therear end of the body of each rule section, save the last, or17. Theplates 57 and 60 and the flanges 58 on the plate 57 are sunk intothebodies Y of the rule sections to make their outer surfaces flush withthe outer surfaces of said sectionsV between their ends, which are.`beveled to form a sliding dovetail joint with the flanges 58. Y Y

In the forward end of each section 17 to 25 is a recess 64 in which islodged a spring with a Ll-shape bend 65. rlhe forwardend of this springis bent to form a U-shape catch, lock button, or lug 66 which normallypasses through an opening 67 in the shoe 57 and which operates throughan opening 68 in the shoe or plate 60. One side of the recess 64 ispartly closed by the plate 57l and opposite the closedV portion therecess 64 is deepened as at 69 to an extent corresponding to thethickness of the spring or its upper cU portion which is securely heldagainst longitudinal'V movement in said deepened portion 69. Into thespace 64 leads an opening 70 into and partlyl out of which projects anupward extension or finger portion71 of the catch 66. This catch, buttonor lug, bears vagainst a flat back 72 of what may be termed a releasebutton, 01"push-button 7 3 which projects through an opening 7 4leadingfrom a recess 75 in the rear end of each rule section, save the section17. Said release vbutton 7 3, including its base or back 72, is .looselymounted in the recess 75 and opening 74. As will be noted by referenceto Fig. 4, the

.catch button 66 bears against the forward Vedge of the opening68` inthe plate 60. This the thickness ofthe plate and form shoulders 76 and77, clearly shown in Fig. 12, `Iwhich contact Awith 1'thev rear ends ofthe inclined -lianges ,58 when two adjoining sections are drawn apart totheend of their separating movements. Fig. 12 also shows on a reducedscale how the lock button or catch '66 bears against the forward end ofthe opening `68 to, prevent in coperation with 'the shoulders 76 and 77and the flanges 58, relative movement of the members of the joint. Thusthe plate 57 carries the spring catch at the forward end of each of saidsections, while the rear end of each said sections carries the eye oropening engaged by said catch and the release button which,

hereinafter to be explained, pushes out automatically at the properstage the catch button engaged with the eye over the re-v lease button.Then the device is used as a rule, or when the level is not used, theusual position of the device is the reverse of that shown, say, inFig. 1. That is the rule sections are drawn from the top of the reversedcase, the bottom then being the top. The case is made a part of therule, being for that purpose provided on its side 3 with the rulemarkings or graduations (not shown) provided Vfor an individual rulesection, such markings or graduations not being shown in the drawings.

Figs. 9 and 10 show the position of the last section 17 when the otherlengths or sections have been withdrawn from the case. The upwardprojection 27 at the end of the outward movement of the section 17 isengaged by the rear end of the follower 36 the forward end of which isformed with an upturned lug that bears against the wall 7. .ln theforward end of the bottom (or top when a part of the rule) 3, is anotch, or cut-out,

78 for the release button 73. This is to prevent too early disconnectionof the sections as coupled in Fig. 4. 7 9 is the opening into the case.This opening is made large enough to pass two coupled together sections,as indicated clearly in Fig. 5.

The operation is as follows: A Closing the rule by pushing the sections23, 24, 25 and 26 of Fig. 1 toward the case, the joint between thesections 23 and 24 will be disconnected when the projecting releasebutton 73 of Fig. 4 strikes the forward end of the bottom 3, which,when, in line with the button 74, will be the rear end of the cutout 78.This disconnection will be effected by the said bottom striking theinclined surface of the curved U-shape button 73, and pushing up saidbutton 73 against the catch button 66 out of engagement with the eye oropening 68. The button 66 will not be pushed completely out of theopening 68, as shown in Fig. 4, but the forward edge of the opening 68by engaging the incline or curve of the extreme lower part of theVbutton 66 will force the latter entirely out of the opening 68 -bycontinuing the rearward push on the coupled-together rule lengths.T'Vhen the section 24 of F ig. 4, or the secltion 23 of Fig-1, is thuscompletely `released wardly inclined, and as it moves rearwardly or tothe left in the opening 79 it will strike the forward end of theoverlying section immediately above and already within the case as inFig. 5, and slide under it by raising the overlying section or sectionswithin the case until it reaches said opening 70 and, entering saidopening, permit the overlying section or sections to drop back thedistance that the finger 71 projects above the top surface of thesection in which it is mounted. The two sections 24 and 25L in Fig. 5show how all of the sections above the section 26 are interlocked by thefingers 71 while within the case.

When the above-named movements are reversed to extend the rule sectionsout of the case, the section 26 is pulled out to the right, until itsrear end, represented by the section 25 in Fig. 5, reaches the catchbutton 66, when the latter will drop into the opening 68, or, rather, beforced thereinto by the spring tension upon said catch. It will thenbecome interlocked with the section 25 of Fig. 5 in the same manner assections 24 and 25 are interlocked in Fig. 4. Thus interlocked the twosections 26 and 25 will be drawn coupled through the opening 79, thesection24 of Fig. 5 remaining stationary with its finger 71 in theopening 70 of the section above it, until the rear end of the section 25brings its opening 68opposite the catch 66 of the section 24 and fpermits the latter to move down and free itself from the opening 70 inthe section (23) next'above. The height of the opening 79 need be nomore than, substantially, the vertical height or thickness of two of therule sections, as sections 25 and 26, because the. button 73 (Fig. 4) inthe rear end of the section 26 does not raise the linger 71 until thelatter is substantially within the case by reason of the cut-out 78extending, as plainly shown in Fig. 5, to the vertical plane of the rearor inner face of the end 7.

I claim as my invention- 1. The combination with a case having anopening thereinto, which casing forms part of a rule, of a series ofbars normally stacked upon each other within said case, joints This.finger 71 of the section 25 (Fig. 5) is forbetween adjacent hars whichconnect them for movement of each bar longitudinally relative tothe'other bars, and interlocking means between one end of one bar andthe other end of the other bar of each two adjacent sections forpreventing relative move ment. t c v 2. The combination with a casehaving an opening thereinto, of a series of slidably 10 connected barsstacked upon each other within said case, interlocking means adapted tocouple all but one of said bars against movement, means for successivelyreleasing each Vof vsaid bars to move relative to the other bars, andmeans for interlocking the ends of adjacent bars against such slidingmovement. l Y

In testimony whereof I have hereunto il signed my name.

. GUSTAFV L. FINSTROM.

